Collins, Rodgers, Lemaitre set for Dusseldorf indoor

DUSSELDORF, Germany – Veteran Kim Collins is among the top names confirmed to race in the men’s 60m at the PSD Bank Meeting – IAAF World Indoor Tour – in Dusseldorf on 1 February, organisers confirmed on Friday.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis sprinter has won three 60m titles in Dusseldorf – 2011, 2015 and 2016 – and the meeting organisers are delighted to confirm his return.

“Kim Collins and our meeting belong together,” said meeting director Marc Osenberg. “I can not imagine the meeting without him.”

The 40-year-old owns a personal best of 6.47 seconds over the 60m, which was set at the 11th Pedro’s Cup in Łódź, Poland in 2015.

Collins finished the last term with a seasonal best time of 6.49 secs and ran 6.53 to secure the PSD Bank Meeting title.

Joining the Caribbean star in Dusseldorf are Christophe Lemaitre of France, Briton James Dasaolu, Americans Mike Rodgers and Marvin Bracy and Ramon Gittens of Barbados.

Lemaitre, the Olympic bronze medallist over 200m at Rio 2016, is more recognised in those longer sprints, but Osenberg revealed the 26-year-old, who owns a personal best of 6.55 secs, will compete at the PSD Bank Meeting for the second time.

The Frenchman’s first trip was in 2013 when he finished sixth in his heat in 6.71 and failed to make the final.

“Christophe Lemaitre is more than a star,” Osenberg said. “He has been collecting medals at Olympic Games, World and European championships for more than half a decade.

“In the upcoming year, he will compete at the PSD Bank Meeting for the second time.”

Rodgers will also be looking to make up for his last appearance in Duesseldorf, after he was disqualified in the final last year.

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Gary Smith is one of the leading writers for World-Track.org. He has over 10 years of running experience, as well as eight-years of coaching while covering several events, from the international to college level. Smith, who has covered events for publications such as Caribbean Net News, Cayman Net News, AFP and Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), is also a frequent contributor of SportingAlert.com and TrackAlerts.com.